Hollywood History Up for Sale Inside Dallas' Heritage Auctions
'This is one of the reasons I came here -- for stuff like this,' says Robert Wilonsky, the former columnist for The Dallas Morning News turned communications director for Heritage Auctions
Inside a nondescript office building off Airport Freeway sits a small room containing some of the most iconic pieces of movie and TV history.
Robert Wilonsky, the former city columnist for The Dallas Morning News and now communications director for Heritage Auctions, gave NBC 5 a sneak peek of the items now up for grabs.
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Bidding started at $8,000 for the Stunt Mjölnir Hammer used by Chris Hemsworth in the movie “Thor: The Dark World.”
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The next minimum bid is $15,500 for the stunt lightsaber used by Mark Hamill’s character ‘Luke Skywalker’ in “Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi.”
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Bidding opened at $10,000 for the Arvo Ojala-customized Colt .45 third generation single action revolvers and Ojala’s personal double-holster fast-draw rig used on-screen by Kevin Costner in “Silverado.”
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Bidding started at $250,000 for Willis O’Brien’s vintage original Oscar for Best Special Effects for “Mighty Joe Young.”
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Bidding started at $5,000 for Willis O’Brien’s original vintage pre-production King Kong plaster head.
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(left to right) Grace Kelly’s ‘Princess Alexandra’ gown from “The Swan,” the military jacket worn by Charlie Chaplin in “The Great Dictator,” the jacket worn by Orson Welles in “Citizen Kane,” and the military jacket worn by George C. Scott in “Patton.”
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Bidding started at $12,000 for the signature red sequined dress worn by Dustin Hoffman as ‘Dorothy Michaels’ in his Best Actor Oscar-winning role in the movie “Tootsie.”
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Bidding started at $40,000 for the vintage original Saxony brand black leather jacket worn by John Travolta’s character ‘Tony Manero’ in the iconic opening sequence of “Saturday Night Fever.”
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Bidding started at $150,000 for the vintage silk poka-dot halter top dress worn by Marilyn Monroe for the meet-cute in the film “Seven Year Itch.”
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The opening bid was $150,000 for Marilyn Monroe’s ‘Cherie’ ensemble from the movie “Bus Stop.”
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Bidding began at $30,000 for the vintage original crème silk ballet leotard with chiffon overlay and 40 foot chiffon train worn by Cyd Charisse in the movie musical “Singin’ in the Rain.”
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Bidding started at $40,000 for the ‘Dorothy Gale’ jumper and blouse worn by Judy Garland during the first two weeks of filming under the first director of “The Wizard of Oz” the dress was later used by Judy’s stunt double in the ‘Flying Monkeys’ sequence of the 1939 film.
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Bidding started at $20,000 for Groucho Marx’s signature ‘Windsore-style’ wire rim eyeglasses worn in the 1930s and 1940s.
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The opening bid was $6,000 for Groucho Marx’s signed personal Dunhill humidor. It belonged to Marx from the late 1930s until his death in 1977.
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(left to right) Lynn-Holly Johnson’s ski suit worn by her character ‘Bibi Dahl’ in the James Bond film “For Your Eyes Only,” the signature leather jacket worn by Arnold Schwarzenegger in “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” and Team Gulf rain jacket worn by Steve McQueen’s character ‘Michael Delaney’ in the movie “Le Mans.”
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Bidding started at $20,000 for the vintage original signature cape and talcoat worn by Al Lewis who played ‘Grandpa Munster’ on the TV series “The Munsters.”
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The opening bid was $2,000 for a set of “Star Trek: The Original Series” replica Starfleet props including two Type-2 Phasers, a “Cage” laser pistol and a Communicator.
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The next minimum bid is $2,600 for the prosthetic Vulcan ear tips worn by Leonard Nimoy’s ‘Mr. Spock’ in “Star Trek: The Original Series.”
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Bidding started at $20,000 for the “Mr. Fusion Home Energy Reactor” from “Back to the Future Part III.” When filled with banana peels, soda and other household trash, creates the necessary 1.21 “Jigowatts” needed to operate the DeLorean’s flux capacitor.
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Bidding started at $6,250 for Bruce Lee’s personal nunchaku with inscribed Jeet Kune Do symbol. Friend and mentor Taky Kimura gave them to the martial arts star on Lee’s 28th birthday.
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Bidding started at $1,000 for Elton John’s personally owned and worn prescription glasses.
Heritage Auctions
Bidding was already up to $210,000 for Sir Elton John’s Steinway grand piano used exclusively in his concerts from 1974-1993.
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Bidding started at $600 for an empty Anvil flight case used by the Ray Charles orchestra.
“We’re surrounded in this very room by some of the greatest moments from Hollywood history,” Wilonsky said.
“This is really the most all-star auction that Heritage has ever had,” Wilonsky said. “This is one of the reasons I came here -- for stuff like this.”
Highlights from the collection include costumes from iconic movies including Judy Garland’s romper worn during the first weeks of filming "The Wizard of Oz" and dresses worn by Marilyn Monroe in "Bus Stop" and "The Seven Year Itch."
The auction also includes some of Monroe’s personal belongings, including a self-portrait.
“If you notice it’s signed Marilyn Monroe Miller during her short marriage to playwright Arthur Miller,” Wilonsky said. “It was auctioned off by Lawrence Oliver at an auction in England. If you look at it, you can tell what it is. It’s how she saw herself and it’s been prominently displayed in the home of every collector who’s owned it and there’s only been two.”
Robert Wilonsky
points to a jacket worn by Orson Welles in Citizen Kane.
Wilonsky is most excited about the items belonging to comedian Groucho Marx. His iconic glasses start with an opening bid of $20,000.
According to Heritage Auctions, the entertainment collection is set to draw more than $5 million.
The company relocated from the Design District to a larger space off Airport Freeway last year and offers auctions in more than 40 categories.
“It’s really wonderful because every day is different here,” said Todd Imhof, Executive Vice President. “To the larger, worldwide collecting community we’re probably better well known than we are in our own backyard.”
It’s expected the unique items will draw bidders from all over the world interested in owning a piece of pop culture.
“It’s memories and it speaks to you,” Wilonsky said. “It touches your heart. It’s just really special stuff.”
